Long run changeup

I have been usually running 3x a week.  Tues is a speed, hill or yasso workout, Thurs is tempo or progression run and Sat or Sun is long run.  I will cycle on my indoor trainer, cross country ski or do strengthening/stretching/weights on the other days. When the snow is gone and the days warm up, I  return to my running more times a week, but for now, this has been my plan.

So, I had a tempo run planned for Thurs but this weekend is crazy busy and I am not sure when or if a long run can even fit in.  Some people can run anytime during the day.  I have a bit more trouble with that.  I like running early in the morning best.  I have also run in the early evening like 6 or so which works if I snack well at 3-4:00 because after running in the evening, I rarely eat much.  I have also run just before noon which also works well.  I work outside the home part time so when I am home on Thurs doing housework and the other tasks of family life, going for a run at 11:00 is a nice break. It also is warmer than it would be first thing in the morning in our Manitoba winters.  So because of the time constraints this weekend, I decided to do my long run for the week Thurs and try and squeeze the tempo run later.

I was suited up on Thurs by 11:15, ready to do my long run.  Our black lab thought he should come along with me running. His name is Hector but we usually refer to him as H hound.  He loves coming and I am sure that when we walk out the door, he looks at our feet first to see if the runners are on.  We usually only take him for shorter runs like 5 miles or so but he was beggin so I caved.  He ran 10 miles with me, then I dropped him off at home and ran another mile and a half. He was such a trooper, no complaints.  I was happy with my pace of around 9 min miles.  I haven't figured it out yet but running at a decent pace just doesn't happen for me in the winter.  I have done many destination run through the winter, Surf City in 2011 for example and ran down in the 8's where I like to be but then I get back here and I am back into the 9's.

I got home and nicely cleaned up and was eating when the wind picked up and the snow came down hard.  (Picture is the view of my backyard)  Good timing.  My partner enjoyed the rest of his afternoon sawing logs.

 

 

 

When is your favourite time to run?